What it is:

Applied to the Constitution:

Charles Bridge Co. sued in state court because of lack of revenue

CASE

Charles River Bridge Case:

In The Contract Clause, Article 1 Section 10, "No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility."  This clause from the Constitution applies to the Charles River Bridge case because the Charles River Bridge was a state chartered toll bridge, but many civilians were angry with the high tolls and refused to use it. The Warren Bridge becomes a toll free bridge chartered by the state also, but Charles River Bridge sued the Warren Bridge for violating property rights.